Instant Match

What’s the difference between ProAssist and Instant Match?

They’re the same thing. We just improved and renamed ProAssist.

Why is this better than quoting myself?

You’re used to Thumbtack sending you a bunch of customer requests, then you sort through them, write up your quote, and send it. The customer gets quotes from the first five pros who respond. Now Thumbtack can do a lot of this work for you:

You save time: Now we take care of the first couple steps. We sort through requests, match you with jobs that are a good fit, and show those customers your profile and a tailored estimate. So you don’t have to be “on” all the time, checking and answering requests. You only need to pay attention when an interested customer reaches out to you.

You reach customers faster: Quotes from pros using Instant Match are delivered to customers instantly. Customers love that. And it’s completely free for you. It also gives you an advantage over pros who haven’t turned on Instant Match yet and are still quoting manually.

You get warmer leads: You don’t pay for people to just look at your quote anymore. People who reach out to you after seeing your quote and profile are much more likely to turn into paying customers.

How can Thumbtack know who to send my quotes to?

Because you tell us. Instant Match setup is way more in-depth than you’re used to. We ask what zip codes you want to work in, what you charge (by hour, or square foot, or by type of project), and when you want to work. We also ask what kinds of jobs you’re looking for and what jobs you want to avoid.

Since you give us very detailed info about what you charge, we can create a custom estimate for every customer’s request. And as long as you set your preferences carefully, you won’t waste time and money on customers who aren’t the right fit. Plus, you can make changes anytime. That’s why it works.

You can preview what we show to customers at any time to make sure we’re doing a good job. Go to your Services and select a service. Then select “Edit Instant Match settings.” Find the job type you’d like to check, and select “Preview.” Then, you’ll see example request from customers along with your price. Something look off? Edit your prices.

To review actual quotes sent, go to the Sent tab of your Inbox. Then select the quotes with the lightning bolt icon. Do the prices look ok? If not, edit your prices.

What do I actually pay for?

You’ll only pay the first time a customer reaches out. That can mean they:

Send you their first message

Schedule a call or appointment

Call you

Mark you as hired

You can only be charged once per customer, so even if someone messages you, then schedules an appointment, and then hires you, you just pay for that first time they reach out. Otherwise, everything is free. We’ll send your quotes for free, customers can look at them for free, and any follow-up messages you send are free.

How much will this cost?

You pay for new customers who contact you – the cost of each contact depends on the size of the job. You can check the FAQs below the budget for each of your services to get a better idea of the dollar amount. You can also check how much you’ve spent in your settings.

However, you should know that the cost of a customer contact with Instant Match is often more expensive than what you’re used to. The reason is simple: People who reach out to you are more likely to turn into paying customers. They’re not just glancing at your quote and moving on, so they cost more. But since quoting is now free, the cost often evens out. Most pros end up paying about the same or less with Instant Match.

Do I pay if a customer contacts me but doesn't end up hiring me?

Yes. Once a customer gets in touch, the ball is in your court and it’s up to you to close the deal. Which is what you do best.

What happens when I set up a budget?

We don’t want you to have any surprises in your bill. So for each service you provide, you can set up a budget to track how much you’re spending. When you hit your limit, we’ll notify you, and pause Instant Match. At that point, we’ll stop sending quotes until the next Monday. Keep in mind that you’ll still be charged if interested customers respond to old quotes.

If you want us to keep quoting after you hit your budget, you can increase your budget amount. Go to your [Services], select “Edit Instant Match settings” for the right service, and increase your budget.

Do I see customer requests as they come in? Or get notified when you send a quote?

No. You get a lot fewer emails about customers who you’re matched with instantly. That’s a good thing. We’re sorting through requests and quoting for you, so you don’t get alerted when there are new requests or when we show new customers your quotes. If you want to see what we’re sending and who we’re sending it to, you can always go to your Inbox and check the Sent tab.

You will get notifications when a new customer writes to you, schedules a meeting, calls you, hires you, or if you’re about to hit the budget you’ve set. That’s when you need to act fast – either respond to the customer or increase your budget.

When will Thumbtack start sending quotes for me?

Once you finish setup, you’ll immediately start getting matched with customers. You can sit back, relax, and wait for the first customer to contact you.

What if Instant Match is available for some of my jobs but not others?

We’re making sure we get this right, one job type at a time, so it’s not available for all categories yet. For example, there’s a chance you could turn on Instant Match for photo booth rentals but not wedding photography. Once it’s available for one of your job types, we’ll let you know. Then it’s up to you if you’d like to turn it on.

If you don’t turn Instant Match on for one type of job, requests will keep coming into your inbox and you’ll pay to quote on them. But your quotes won’t be instantly delivered to customers and other competitors in your market will have the advantage of Instant Match.

So what will a customer see when my quote arrives?

If a customer fits your schedule and the jobs you want, your quote will pop up the second they finish their request. We’ll show them a cost estimate based on what they’re looking for and the pricing you set up. They’ll also see a link to your profile, your star score, and your reviews.

If they’re interested in your business, they’ll reach out. Then it’s your time to shine – sell them on why you’re the right person for the job.

How do I contact customer support?

We have a dedicated team to help you as you set up and succeed. You can reach the Thumbtack support team at (866) 501-5803 from 7am to 4pm PT or support@thumbtack.com.

Managed Accounts

How does Thumbtack work?

Everyday, people come to Thumbtack to get things done. They tell us exactly what they need, so we can find them the right professional.

If you’re a match and you’re available, we’ll show them your business, your reviews, and an estimate for the job (if applicable). We use your settings to make sure we’re bringing you exactly the customers you want, at the price you want to charge. And you only pay if someone contacts you.

What am I paying for, exactly?

You’ll only pay the first time a customer reaches out. That can mean they:

Send you their first message

Schedule a call or appointment

Call you

Mark you as hired

You can only be charged once per customer, so even if someone messages you, then schedules an appointment, and then hires you, you just pay for that first time they reach out. Otherwise, everything is free. We’ll send your estimates for free, customers can look at them for free, and any follow-up messages you send are free.

You can find prices for the types of services you provide here. If you have questions about exactly how you’re charged (e.g. a credit card, monthly bill, etc), please ask your account manager.

Need extra peace-of-mind? We check each contact to make sure it’s valid. That way you’re not getting charged for any duplicates or scam messages.

How can Thumbtack know who to send my quotes to?

Because you tell us. We ask what zip codes you want to work in, what you charge (by hour, or square foot, or by type of project), and when you want to work. We also ask what kinds of jobs you’re looking for and what jobs you want to avoid.

Since you give us very detailed info about what you charge, we can create a custom estimate for every customer’s request. And as long as you set your preferences carefully, you won’t waste time and money on customers who aren’t the right fit. Plus, you can make changes anytime. That’s why it works.

You can preview what we show to customers at any time to make sure we’re doing a good job.

What do I need to do to be successful?

We take care of the first part (sending the initial estimate), so your main focus should be answering customers when they contact you. They’ll have already seen your business, so they’re interested – just don’t wait too long to respond.

You’ll know you have a new customer to talk to when:

A customer responds to your quote: This typically means a customer has a question or request. Basically, they’re interested and now you need to seal the deal. You’re charged for this first response from the customer, so make the most of it.

You’re marked as “hired”: This means a customer picked you for the job. You’ll be charged, even if they haven’t sent you a message first, so it’s a good idea to follow up and be sure the details are finalized.

Someone wants to schedule a call or appointment: You’ll get notified when a customer wants to book your time, either to talk on the phone or hire you directly. Check your account to see what time they’d like to connect.

You receive a call: Each quote we send will have a phone number that forwards directly to your cell or office.

Follow up messages help too. Our team can send your contact info to customers who viewed your quote. Just tell us what you want the message to say. And remember, that part’s totally free – you only pay if the customer responds.

What are the terms and conditions?

There are a few things our legal department wants to make sure you know, especially for certain industries. Please read below, then sign the terms here.

By clicking “Sign Terms and Conditions” here, you are agreeing to the Thumbtack Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and these Terms of Service. You are also entering the Quoting Service Program (“the Program”). By participating in this Program, you agree that you may be required to complete and pass a background check through Thumbtack’s vendor Checkr. Except where provided explicitly herein, the Thumbtack Terms of Use and Privacy Policy shall apply fully and completely. Where these Terms of Service conflict with the Thumbtack Terms of Use or Privacy Policy, these Terms of Service apply.

If you are part of a franchise organization, you also agree to allow Thumbtack to provide any and all data regarding your account activity, including but not limited to the content of any messaging, the volume of usage, the status of billing or any other metrics, to your franchisor.

By participating in the Program, you are giving Thumbtack permission to send quotes, communicate with customers through Thumbtack Messenger, and quote specific pricing to customers, all pursuant to your instructions. While enrolled in the Program, you will pay a fee to Thumbtack for “customer contacts.” A customer contact occurs each time a customer (a) responds to your quote with intent to learn more of your services, whether this communication was by phone, email, message on Thumbtack, or other means; (b) takes any step to schedule an appointment with you; (c) marks you as hired; or (d) takes any other concrete step to consider hiring you.

Top Pro Program

Once I become a Top Pro, do I remain a Top Pro forever?

If your performance continues to meet the Top Pro benchmarks forever, then yes. We apply the program’s objective criteria to all Thumbtack pros — even existing Top Pros — twice each year, at the beginning of January and July. If you no longer meet the Top Pro criteria at the next evaluation, you’ll no longer qualify for Top Pro status.

If you lost your Top Pro distinction, don’t worry! You can become a Top Pro again during the next evaluation. And we’ll make sure you receive performance updates so you know you’re on track to earn back your title of Top Pro on Thumbtack.

Can I pay to become a Top Pro on Thumbtack?

No. The Top Pro distinction is earned solely by meeting the objective benchmarks of the program and cannot be purchased or obtained any other way. For more details, see “How to become a Top Pro” above.

How will customers know I’m a Top Pro?

An eye-catching orange ribbon will appear on your profile and quotes to indicate your distinction as a Top Pro and help you stand out. You’ll also get a personalized badge to put on your website, emails, social media pages — wherever!

How do I know how close I am to becoming a Top Pro?

We’ll send you a periodic status report that lets you know where you stand in relation to each of the four criteria for qualification. You can use this status report to track your progress in the run up to our semi-annual evaluations in January and July.

I think I’m qualified. How come I’m not a Top Pro?

There are three objective criteria that determine who is a Top Pro. Meeting those criteria is the only way to become a Top Pro. We apply these criteria to all pros at the beginning of January and July and announce Top Pros soon thereafter. See “How to become a Top Pro” above.

How many Top Pros are there? Do you cap the group at a certain number?

There is no cap on the number of Top Pros on Thumbtack, and any individual who meets the three objective benchmarks will become a Top Pro. However, only a very small number of professionals currently qualify for the program.

Top Pros are not endorsed by Thumbtack. For full details about the program, please see our Terms and Conditions.

Credits to Dollars

Are prices the same on the Thumbtack app?

Yes! You’ll see the exact same prices on your computer, phone, tablet, or whatever device you use.

What happens to my credits?

If you have any credits in your account, we’ll show them in dollars that you can spend on Thumbtack. Since the base price of each credit is $1.67, we’ll simply multiply your existing credits by $1.67. You’ll be able to see your balance at any time by going to your payment settings. Your old balance in credits and your new balance in dollars have the exact same value on Thumbtack.

What is Quick Pay?

Quick Pay lets you send quotes faster so you don’t miss out on jobs. With Quick Pay, we’ll only charge your credit or debit card for quotes you send, so you don’t have to choose a payment method every time. Once you have an established purchase history on Thumbtack, you’ll no longer see charges on your card for each quote you send. Instead, you’ll pay for several quotes at once. You’ll still see all itemized charges in your receipts and can view charges for individual quotes sent in your payment settings. You’ll be able to turn Quick Pay on and off at any time in your payment settings.

What if I use auto-reload credit packs?

We’re simplifying things, so auto-reload credit packs are going away. Instead of buying credit packs upfront, you’ll just pay to send quotes with Quick Pay. You’ll be able to turn Quick Pay on and off at any time in your payment settings.

What if I use "pay as you go"?

Quick Pay is the new version of pay as you go – it lets you send quotes faster so you don’t miss out on jobs. With Quick Pay, we’ll only charge your card for quotes you send. You’ll be able to turn Quick Pay on and off at any time in your payment settings.

Will I still get receipts?

Yes. We’ll still send you purchase receipts by email. If you’re using Quick Pay, several of your quotes might be grouped into one receipt. See terms.

Will I still receive refunds for quotes that aren’t viewed within 48 hours?

Yes. If a quote you send isn’t viewed by the customer within 48 hours, we’ll automatically refund the amount to your Thumbtack balance so you can use it to send another quote. You can see if you’ve received an automatic refund or check your Thumbtack balance by checking your payment settings.